Improvement in boots and shoes



A. BURKE.

BOOTS AND SHOES.

No.'175,237 Patented March 28,1876.

NPETERS. FHOTO-UTHOGRAPPKEV. WLSHIKG'IGN. D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW BURKE, OF NEWYORK, N. Y

IMPROVEMENT IN BOOTS AND SHOES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 175,237, dated March 28, 1876; application filed October 18, 1873.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ANDREW BURKE, of the city of New York, county and State of New York, have invented certain Improve- 'ments in Boots and Shoes, of which the following is a specification:

The nature and object of my invention are to protect the cavity in the shoe under the hollow of the foot against any reasonable amount of pressure by providing a' shankpiece, which prevents the shank from spreading or flattening out, which it has a tendency to do when pressed upon, if it be wet. The shank-piece is of semi-cylindrical shape, cut off at the ends to inake it fit closely the depression in the last on either side of the ridge and is fitted upon the ridge between the inner and outer soles. The concave surface of the shank-piece is placed upon the-insole at the place where the ridge is, forming a saddle, the convex surface facing outward toward the outer sole, which keeps the shankpiece in its place,and the welt, pegs, or other fastening, on either side of the shank, giving a support to the' edges. The shank-piece is about one-eighth of an inch in thickness, and

from two to four inches in length, in accordance with the size of the ridge. It may be made of wood, bone, hard rubber, or other suitable substance. For a more particular description I refer to the accompanying drawlugs.

Figure 1 is an inverted sectional View of a shoe, showing my improved shank-piece inserted; A, the shank-piece; B B, the ends cut off O, the edges supported on either side. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side view of the shankpiece A; B B, the ends out oh; 0, the edges supported on either side. Fig. 3 is an inverted view oi'the same. Fig. 4 is an end view of the same.

I claim as my invention- A shank-piece for boots and shoes, made semi-cylindrical in right cross section through its entire length, and having the ends out 01f, substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.

ANDREW BURKE.

Witnesses:

G. W. LOCKWOOD, J. FRANK MILLETT. 

